Verbs That Change Meaning Verbs That Change Meaning in the Preterite and the in the Preterite and the

ImperfectImperfect

Verbs That Change in Meaning Verbs That Change in Meaning from Preterite to Imperfect from Preterite to Imperfect TensesTenses• A few Spanish verbs have different A few Spanish verbs have different

meanings in the imperfect and the meanings in the imperfect and the preterite tenses:preterite tenses:

• SABERSABER• CONOCERCONOCER• QUERERQUERER• NO QUERERNO QUERER• PODERPODER

SABERSABER

• Imperfect – “knew”Imperfect – “knew”• ¿¿SabíasSabías que el concierto empezaba que el concierto empezaba

tarde?tarde?• Did you know that the concert began Did you know that the concert began

late?late?

• Preterite – “found out, learned”Preterite – “found out, learned”• Sí, Sí, supesupe ayer que empezaba tarde. ayer que empezaba tarde.• Yes, I found out that it began late.Yes, I found out that it began late.

CONOCERCONOCER

• Imperfect – “knew (somebody)”Imperfect – “knew (somebody)”• Pedro Pedro conocíaconocía muy bien a esa actriz. muy bien a esa actriz.• Pedro knew that actress very well.Pedro knew that actress very well.

• Preterite – “met (somebody) for the Preterite – “met (somebody) for the first time”first time”

• Luis la Luis la conocióconoció el año pasado. el año pasado.• Luis met her last year.Luis met her last year.

QUERERQUERER

• Imperfect – “wanted to”Imperfect – “wanted to”

• Luis Luis queríaquería comprar las entradas hoy. comprar las entradas hoy.

• Luis wanted to buy the tickets today.Luis wanted to buy the tickets today.

• Preterite – “tried to, attempted to”Preterite – “tried to, attempted to”

• Yo Yo quisequise comprarlas, pero me enfermé. comprarlas, pero me enfermé.

• I tried to buy them but I got sick.I tried to buy them but I got sick.

NO QUERERNO QUERER

• Imperfect – “didn’t want to”Imperfect – “didn’t want to”

• No No queríanquerían ver esa obra de teatro. ver esa obra de teatro.

• They didn’t want to see that play.They didn’t want to see that play.

• Preterite – “refused to”Preterite – “refused to”

• No No quisieronquisieron ver esa obra de teatro. ver esa obra de teatro.

• They refused to see that play.They refused to see that play.

PODERPODER

• Imperfect – “was able to, could”Imperfect – “was able to, could”

• Ella Ella podíapodía aprender la letra de la canción. aprender la letra de la canción.

• She was able to learn the letter of the song.She was able to learn the letter of the song.

• Preterite – “managed to, succeeded in”Preterite – “managed to, succeeded in”

• Ella Ella pudopudo aprender la letra de esa canción. aprender la letra de esa canción.

• She succeeded in learning the letter of that She succeeded in learning the letter of that song.song.